TO: EDITORS, NEWS DIRECTORS

DATE: August 12, 1998

FOR: IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Perry Baker (602) 542-0844

CORPORATION COMMISSION ISSUES WARNING TO SMALL BUSINESSES ABOUT CORPORATE FILING SOLICITATIONS

The Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC), has received several complaints from small businesses and corporations who have received official-looking notices from an entity known as The Corporate Compliance Center (CCC) advertising their services in preparing corporate annual meeting documents. The solicitation notice is laid out and printed in a style that closely resembles official ACC notices, and there is generally some form of official looking time deadline in which to complete the form, and mail it to a Phoenix address, along with an $80.00 fee.

The private firm making the solicitation even uses a name that is substantially similar sounding to that of the ACC, however, as Joanne MacDonnell, Director of the Corporations Division notes, "The public needs to know that the service advertised is not the same as the corporate annual report required by the Commission. The form may look official, but it is definitely not coming from this agency." Official ACC forms are available for free, and according to MacDonnell, are simple and easy to complete. She notes that the agency is presently investigating the firm that has been sending out the notices, but since so many corporations have called in for more information regarding the notices, the Commission is taking the extraordinary step of issuing this public warning: The Arizona Corporation Commission is not affiliated with "The Corporate Compliance Center". Watch out for their mailing. It is designed to mimic the look of the Commission's Annual Report Form, however, it is not an official government document, and submitting monies to this firm is not advised.

EDITORS: Original copies of the questioned form can be viewed at the Corporation Commission offices, 1200 W. Washington. Please call 542-0844 for further information.